Assembly for holding a beverage container

ABSTRACT

There is described an assembly for holding a beverage container. The assembly includes a beverage holder having a base and one or more sidewalls extending from the base. The one or more sidewalls define with the base a space for receiving a beverage container. The base includes a recess formed in the base. The base further includes an aperture extending from the recess to an exterior of the beverage holder. The assembly further includes a fastener for inserting through the aperture.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to an assembly for holding a beveragecontainer, and to a beverage holder for holding a beverage container.

BACKGROUND TO THE DISCLOSURE

Beverage holders, also known as drink holders or cup holders, are widelyused. The purpose of a beverage holder is to store in a stable fashionan open beverage container, such as a cup of coffee or a soda can, whilea person performs some other task without having to hold the opencontainer at the same time.

With this in mind, it is typical when in a boat or other marine vesselto enjoy a beverage such as a soda or the like. Therefore, it isgenerally known to use beverage holders when drinking on a boat. Forexample, a beverage holder may be integrally formed in the gunwale of aboat.

Rowing boats, however, are one type of boat that typically do notinclude beverage holders. Wire-type beverage holders do exist for rowingboats, but require the drilling of holes into the boat.

It would therefore be useful to provide an alternative, efficient meansof integrating a beverage holder with a marine vessel, especially arowing vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided anassembly for holding a beverage container, comprising: a beverage holdercomprising a base and one or more sidewalls extending from the base anddefining with the base a space for receiving a beverage container,wherein the base comprises: a recess formed in the base; and an apertureextending from the recess to an exterior of the beverage holder; and afastener for inserting through the aperture.

The fastener may be configured to be inserted through an oarlock socket.

A shank of the fastener may have a diameter of about ½ inch.

The fastener may be a carriage bolt.

The recess may be configured such that, when the fastener is insertedthrough the aperture from within the space for receiving the beveragecontainer, a head of the fastener sits at least partially, or wholly,within the recess.

The base may be a circular base, and the one or more sidewalls maycomprise a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base.

The base may further comprise a drain hole formed therein. The drainhole may extend from the recess to an exterior of the beverage holder.

The aperture may be rectangular-shaped.

The assembly may further comprise a washer for receiving the fastener.

The assembly may further comprise a locking device for locking thefastener to the beverage holder. The locking device may comprise awingnut. The locking device may comprise an elongate member for passingthrough an aperture formed within a shank of the fastener.

The assembly may further comprise instructions for fastening thebeverage holder to an oarlock socket.

The assembly may further comprise an oarlock socket. The oarlock socketmay comprise a bore extending therethrough, and the bore may beconfigured to receive the fastener.

The assembly may further comprise a spacer comprising an apertureextending through the spacer. The aperture extending through the spacermay be for receiving the fastener when inserted through the aperture ofthe base.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a marine vesselcomprising: an oarlock socket; and a beverage holder for receiving abeverage container, wherein the beverage holder comprises a baseattached to the oarlock socket.

The marine vessel may be a rowing boat.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method ofincorporating a beverage holder with a marine vessel having an oarlocksocket, comprising: attaching a base of the beverage holder to theoarlock socket.

The method may further comprise, before attaching the beverage holder tothe oarlock socket, removing an oarlock from the oarlock socket. It isnot unusual for a rowing boat's oarlock sockets to remain unused andtherefore available for retrofitting with a beverage holder as describedherein, since many rowing boats are fitted with motors.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an assembly forholding a beverage container, comprising: a beverage holder comprising abase and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining withthe base a space for receiving a beverage container, wherein the basecomprises an aperture formed in the base and extending from an interiorof the beverage holder to an exterior of the beverage holder; and afastener for inserting through the aperture.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a beverageholder for holding a beverage container, comprising: a beverage holdercomprising a base and one or more sidewalls extending from the base anddefining with the base a space for receiving a beverage container,wherein the base comprises: a recess formed in the base; and an apertureextending from the recess to an exterior of the beverage holder.

In another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an assembly forholding a beverage container, comprising: an oarlock socket; and abeverage holder for receiving a beverage container, wherein the beverageholder comprises a base configured to be fastened to the oarlock socket.

In another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an assembly forholding a beverage container, comprising: an oarlock socket; and abeverage holder comprising: a base; and one or more sidewalls extendingfrom the base and defining with the base a space for receiving abeverage container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in detail inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly for holding abeverage container, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of a beverage holder according toembodiments of the disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are top and cross-sectional views, respectively, of thebeverage holder of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an oarlock socket;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an oarlock;

FIGS. 6A-6C are top, cross-sectional, and side views, respectively, ofthe assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of an assembly for holding abeverage container, according to embodiments of the disclosure; and

FIGS. 7B and 7C are cross-sectional and side views, respectively, of theassembly of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure seeks to provide an assembly for holding abeverage container, and to a beverage holder. While various embodimentsof the disclosure are described below, the disclosure is not limited tothese embodiments, and variations of these embodiments may well fallwithin the scope of the disclosure which is to be limited only by theappended claims.

The word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising”or “including” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”,but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at leastone”, and “one or more than one” unless the content clearly dictatesotherwise. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second ormore unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The terms “coupled”, “coupling” or “connected” as used herein can haveseveral different meanings depending on the context in which these termsare used. For example, the terms coupled, coupling, or connected canhave a mechanical or electrical connotation. For example, as usedherein, the terms coupled, coupling, or connected can indicate that twoelements or devices are directly connected to one another or connectedto one another through one or more intermediate elements or devices viaan electrical element, electrical signal or a mechanical elementdepending on the particular context. The term “and/or” herein when usedin association with a list of items means any one or more of the itemscomprising that list.

Generally, according to embodiments of the disclosure, there isdescribed an assembly for holding a beverage holder, to be used with arowing boat. Rowing boats typically include oarlocks (also known asrowlocks or gates) that are used hold the oars about respective fulcrumsin relation to the boat. An oarlock is mounted to the boat by means ofan oarlock socket. An oarlock socket generally comprises one or moreflanges, brackets, or other supporting members that are used, forexample with screws, to attach the oarlock socket the gunwale of theboat. The oarlock may then be inserted into a bore formed within theoarlock socket, and is attached to the oarlock socket. An example of anoarlock socket is shown in FIG. 4, and an example of an oarlock is shownin FIG. 5.

According to embodiments of the disclosure, a beverage holder may befastened or otherwise attached to an existing oarlock socket. Inparticular, if an oarlock is fastened to an existing oarlock socket, theoarlock is first removed from the oarlock socket. The beverage holdermay then be fastened or otherwise attached to the oarlock socket,instead of the oarlock. For example, the beverage holder may include anaperture formed in its base. A fastening or attachment device, such as afastener, is then inserted through the aperture and into the bore of theoarlock socket. The fastener may then be secured using, for example, awingnut or similar locking device. Thus, the oarlock socket, when notbeing used to support an oarlock, may be used as a stable platform forsupporting the beverage holder.

Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown an assembly 100 for holding a beveragecontainer 10, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Assemblyincludes generally a fastener 20, a beverage holder 30, a washer 50, anda wingnut 60. Also shown in FIG. 1 is an oarlock socket 40. Oarlocksocket 40 is typically pre-attached to a marine vessel such as a rowingboat, although according to some embodiments oarlock socket 40 may beincluded as part of assembly 100.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show different views of beverage holder 30. Beverageholder 30 is generally cup-shaped. In particular, beverage holder 30comprises a circular base 32 and a cylindrical sidewall 34 extendingaway from base 32. Base 32 and sidewall 34 define a space 33 forreceiving beverage container 10 within beverage holder 30. Within base32 is formed a circular recess 31, as seen in FIG. 2B and as seen ingreater detail in FIG. 3B. Within the bottom of recess 31 is formed asquare-shaped aperture 38 located centrally with respect to base 32.Thus, aperture 38 extends from the interior of beverage holder 30,beginning at the bottom of recess 31, to the exterior of beverage holder30. Base 32 further includes a drain hole 36 extending from a bottom ofrecess 31 to the exterior of beverage holder 30.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show additional views of beverage holder 30. Inparticular, as can be seen from FIG. 3B, base 32 of beverage holder 30comprises a first annular base surface 35 delimited by sidewall 34 andrecess 31. Base 32 comprises a second annular base surface 37 on abottom of recess 31. Annular base surface 37 is delimited by the wall ofrecess 31 and aperture 38.

A depth of recess 31 may be about 7 mm, and a depth of aperture 38 maybe about 8 mm from the bottom of base 32 to the bottom of recess 31. Ofcourse, according to other embodiments, these dimensions may be suitablyvaried and may be different from the ones indicated herein.

FIG. 4 shows oarlock socket 40 in more detail. Generally, oarlock socket40 comprises a bracket 42 extending perpendicularly to a socket 44.Socket 44 includes a bore 46 extending therethrough. Bracket 42 isconfigured to be attached to a gunwale of a rowing boat, for example.Socket 44 is configured to couple to an oarlock (for example, as seen inFIG. 5) by receiving an elongate portion of an oarlock through bore 46,as is known in the art.

FIG. 4 shows merely one example of an oarlock socket that may be usedwith the beverage holder described herein. The beverage holder describedherein may be used with any suitable oarlock socket or other devicetypically used in conjunction with an oarlock but that, in the absenceof an oarlock, may be fastened, attached, or otherwise coupled to abeverage holder.

Turning to FIGS. 5A-5C, there are shown views of assembly 100 in itsfully assembled state. A user wishing to provide their rowing boat witha beverage holder may proceed as follows.

First, if oarlock socket 40 is coupled to an oarlock, then the oarlockis decoupled and removed from oarlock socket 40. Subsequently, fastener20, which in the present embodiment is a carriage bolt (for example astainless steel carriage bolt), is inserted through aperture 38 ofbeverage holder 30 and through bore 46 of socket 44. In order to fastenor otherwise secure beverage holder 30 to oarlock socket 40, fastener 20is locked using washer 50, such as a split/lock washer, and wingnut 60.Once locked, beverage holder 30 is held in secure engagement withoarlock socket 40, with base 32 in contact with oarlock socket 40.Beverage container 10 may then be inserted into beverage holder 30 andmay rest on annular base surface 35.

According to the present embodiment, fastener 20 is a ½″×4″ 13 UNCcarriage bolt, and wingnut 60 is a ½″ UNC wingnut. However, as would berecognized by the skilled person, other types of fasteners and wingnutsmay be used.

Once beverage holder 30 is fastened to oarlock socket 40, a head 22 offastener 20 sits wholly within recess 31. In some embodiments, a portionof head 22 may protrude out of recess 31 into space 33. This may beacceptable, for example, in the case of beverage container 10 being analuminium beverage can or some other container having a concave base 12that may provide a space for head 22 to be received within.

Drain hole 36 provides a means for outflow of any liquid that may haveflowed into beverage holder 30. This may be useful, for example, duringperiods of cold weather, since freezing water, unless allowed to flowout of beverage holder 30, may cause damage to beverage holder 30 whenit expands.

While assembly 100 uses wingnut 60 to lock beverage holder 30 to oarlocksocket 40, other locking devices may be used. For example, instead ofwingnut 60, a user may use a locking nut such as a nyloc nut, or maydrill a hole through the shank of fastener 20 and then inserttherethrough an elongate member such as a piece of wire to act as alocking device. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, washer 50may be dispensed with.

While oarlock sockets may be attached to different points of a boat, andthus the general shape of an oarlock socket may vary depending on howand where it attaches to the boat, oarlock sockets in general have abore with a diameter of about ½ inch. Therefore, in the embodimentdescribed above, fastener 20 has a shank diameter of about ½ inch, inorder to be inserted through oarlock socket 40. However, whatever thediameter of the bore of the oarlock socket, the diameter of the fasteneris selected appropriately in order to enable the fastener to fit intothe oarlock socket's bore.

Beverage holder 30 may be sized according to the type of beveragecontainer that the user wishes to use. The present embodiment isdescribed in the context of a 500 mL beverage can, but other types andsizes of beverage containers are contemplated within the scope of thedisclosure. Thus, the size, diameter, and/or shape of beverage holder 30may be suitably varied to accommodate different types and sizes ofbeverage containers.

Furthermore, while the means for securing beverage holder 30 to oarlocksocket 40 has been described in the context of a carriage bolt orsimilar fastener, other fastening or attachment devices or mechanismsmay be used.

Some manufacturers recess a vessel's oarlock below the top of thegunnel. Therefore, according to some embodiments, the assembly may beprovided with a spacer 39 as can be seen in FIGS. 7A-7C. Spacer 39,which may be for example a piece of ½″ plastic pipe, may be used toelevate beverage holder 30 such that beverage holder 30 may be flushwith the gunnel. As can be seen in FIGS. 7B and 7C, once assembled,fastener 20 extends through spacer 39 provided between beverage holder30 and oarlock socket 40

The assembly may be provided in unassembled form. For example, theassembly may be provided in the form of a beverage holder, a fastener,and locking means such as a washer and a wingnut, ready for assembly.Such an assembly may additionally include instructions for explaining toa user how to retrofit an existing oarlock socket with the beverageholder. According to some embodiments, the assembly may further includean oarlock socket for attachment to a boat. According to someembodiments, only the beverage holder may be provided.

Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the event of for example anemergency, the beverage holder described herein may be removed from theoarlock socket and the oarlock may be re-attached to the oarlock socket.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with specificembodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limitedto these embodiments, and that alterations, modifications, andvariations of these embodiments may be carried out by the skilled personwithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. It is furthermorecontemplated that any part of any aspect or embodiment discussed in thisspecification can be implemented or combined with any part of any otheraspect or embodiment discussed in this specification.

1. An assembly for holding a beverage container, comprising: a beverageholder comprising a base and one or more sidewalls extending from thebase and defining with the base a space for receiving a beveragecontainer, wherein the base comprises: a recess formed in the base; andan aperture extending from the recess to an exterior of the beverageholder; and a fastener for inserting through the aperture.
 2. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to be insertedthrough an oarlock socket.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a shankof the fastener has a diameter of about ½ inch.
 4. The assembly of claim1, wherein the fastener is a carriage bolt.
 5. The assembly of claim 1,wherein the recess is configured such that, when the fastener isinserted through the aperture from within the space for receiving thebeverage container, a head of the fastener sits at least partiallywithin the recess.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the recess isconfigured such that, when the fastener is inserted through the aperturefrom within the space for receiving the beverage container, the head ofthe fastener sits wholly within the recess.
 7. The assembly of claim 1,wherein the base is a circular base, and wherein the one or moresidewalls comprise a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base. 8.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a drain holeformed therein.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the drain holeextends from the recess to an exterior of the beverage holder.
 10. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture is rectangular-shaped.
 11. Theassembly of claim 10, further comprising a washer for receiving thefastener.
 12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lockingdevice for locking the fastener to the beverage holder.
 13. The assemblyof claim 12, wherein the locking device comprises a wingnut.
 14. Theassembly of claim 12, wherein the locking device comprises an elongatemember for passing through an aperture formed within a shank of thefastener.
 15. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising instructionsfor fastening the beverage holder to an oarlock socket.
 16. The assemblyof claim 1, further comprising an oarlock socket.
 17. The assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the oarlock socket comprises a bore extendingtherethrough, and wherein the bore is configured to receive thefastener.
 18. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spacercomprising an aperture extending through the spacer and for receivingthe fastener when inserted through the aperture of the base.
 19. Amarine vessel comprising: an oarlock socket; and a beverage holder forreceiving a beverage container, wherein the beverage holder comprises abase attached to the oarlock socket.
 20. An assembly for holding abeverage container, comprising: a beverage holder comprising a base andone or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining with the basea space for receiving a beverage container, wherein the base comprisesan aperture formed in the base and extending from an interior of thebeverage holder to an exterior of the beverage holder; and a fastenerfor inserting through the aperture.